Don’t become a key code hacking victim

Motorists are advised to keep their vehicle software up to date with manufacturer recalls to help prevent the rising trend of key code hacking. Our motoring journalist, Tim Barnes-Clay, reports.

Illegal Access

The advice from vehicle data experts hpi comes as recent reports show that keyless entry has driven a rise in car theft. With a piece of kit available online a thief can intercept the code sent out by the key and create an unlocking code for your car which allows them to gain access to it and drive off.

Software Updates

Fernando Garcia, of hpi, said: “Car manufacturers take security seriously and issue software updates that can be performed by your local dealership, or in some cases wirelessly over the internet. It’s important to check if your car is subject to recall that will cover not only security but also safety upgrades.”

Recall Check

In a typical year, more than 1 million cars are affected by a recall, with over 150 recalls issued. hpi offers a recall check as part of its vehicle history check service.

Vehicle History

HPI car checks are useful for anyone who is thinking of buying a used car. It provides a fully comprehensive check of the vehicle with 80 data points regarding the history of the car, including number plate changes, mileage discrepancies, MOT history queries and the number of previous owners.

Peace-of-Mind

Garcia added: “On top of keeping your current car safe, an HPI Check will search both the VIN and number plate against the Police national computer for cars currently recorded as stolen and check for cloned vehicles.”

Car Thefts

According to research by RAC, car thefts in England and Wales have increased from 65,783 in 2013 to 85,688 in 2017.